"Don’t stand too close to the river," Mama said as she fetched another bucket of water. If we didn’t finish fetching our water in the next hour, the darkness would catch up to us. I hate the darkness. It covers everything and takes away our hope. “Ahh,” came a small, shaky voice. I turned around, and it was my little brother, Eze, eating grass again. He is only three, but he should know better than to eat random objects. “Stop that right now!” I shouted. “Both of you, quick inside. We are done for today,” said Mama.

“Maka, Maka, Maka, you need to come inside and see this right now!” Ivy yelled. I wondered why Papa was yelling. Whatever it is, there was joy in his voice. I picked up Eze and sprinted after Mama. “Look, look! Do you see what I am seeing? I have received a letter to work for the council!” cried out Ivy.

“Does that mean Papa will not be a farmer anymore?” I asked, but nobody answered me. Regardless, I knew the answer was yes. Everyone was jumping for joy, and the flames of the fire pit seemed to increase. The joy Mama and Papa felt filled the whole house. So, I joined them, grabbing Eze while dancing in a circle. Mama even knocked over the second bucket of water, but nobody seemed to care. They both hurried off to tell Mr. Ade, our neighbor.

Suddenly, my joy released itself from my chest, and reality set in. If Papa was not a farmer anymore, it meant we cannot stay in block five any longer. We will be moved to block three. That means it will be much more difficult for me to see Ada, my best friend. Chapter 1: Bethel

"Don’t stand too close to the river," Mama said as she fetched another bucket of water. If we didn’t finish fetching our water in the next hour, the darkness would catch up to us. I hate the darkness. It covers everything and takes away our hope. “Ahh,” came a small, shaky voice. I turned around, and it was my little brother, Eze, eating grass again. He is only three, but he should know better than to eat random objects. “Stop that right now!” I shouted. “Both of you, quick inside. We are done for today,” said Mama.

“Maka, Maka, Maka, you need to come inside and see this right now!” Ivy yelled. I wondered why Papa was yelling. Whatever it is, there was joy in his voice. I picked up Eze and sprinted after Mama. “Look, look! Do you see what I am seeing? I have received a letter to work for the council!” cried out Ivy.

“Does that mean Papa will not be a farmer anymore?” I asked, but nobody answered me. Regardless, I knew the answer was yes. Everyone was jumping for joy, and the flames of the fire pit seemed to increase. The joy Mama and Papa felt filled the whole house. So, I joined them, grabbing Eze while dancing in a circle. Mama even knocked over the second bucket of water, but nobody seemed to care. They both hurried off to tell Mr. Ade, our neighbor.

Suddenly, my joy released itself from my chest, and reality set in. If Papa was not a farmer anymore, it meant we cannot stay in block five any longer. We will be moved to block three. That means it will be much more difficult for me to see Ada, my best friend.

Full chapter will be posted soon on my blog.

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